The Gold Coast 's public hospitals are experiencing significant bed shortages as aged care and National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) patients await supported accommodation.

Gold Coast University and Robina Public Hospitals currently accommodate 150 patients, the equivalent of seven full hospital wards, who are medically cleared for discharge but lack suitable accommodation.

Approximately 42 per cent, or 64, of these patients are effectively permanent residents of these hospitals.

"These people are medically ready to leave, but they are unable to be discharged, because there's nowhere safe for them to go," Dr Benjamin Chen from Gold Coast University Hospital said.

"We have had patients who stay in excess of 400 days, and that's not their fault.

"They feel distressed, they f

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